What happens after the school bell rings can open up a world of opportunity. Speaking to CapeTalk’s Clarence Ford, The Learning Trust’s Executive Director, Charlene Petersen-Voss, highlighted the role of after-school programmes in supporting children beyond the classroom.
The 2026 Lights On After School campaign, returns to South Africa for its seventh year under the theme Switched On! Ready to Learn. Ready to Play. Ready to Grow.
The campaign is led by The Learning Trust and YearBeyond, with support from partners across the country, celebrates the people and organisations powering the after-school sector while drawing attention to the wider role these programmes play in creating opportunity.
A 15-year review on strengthening the organisations, partnerships and systems that support children and young people beyond the classroom. We’re proud to present our 2025 Annual Report: Building South Africa’s After-School Ecosystem – A 15-Year Review. As The Learning Trust (TLT) celebrate 15 years of strengthening South Africa’s after-school sector, this report reflects on our journey alongside community-based organisations, … Read more
As part of our commitment to strengthening and professionalising the after-school sector, The Learning Trust has developed this HR Manual to support community-based organisations in building stronger people management practices. The manual is the culmination of a multi-year learning journey with Social Employment Fund (SEF) implementing partners within the Catch-up Coalition, shaped by the experiences, challenges and opportunities that emerged through working alongside organisations across diverse contexts.
South Africa’s education system is faced with a myriad of challenges that negatively impact learning and employment outcomes. Studies such as the ThrivebyFive Index show that many learners start Grade 1 already far behind, with only 42% of our children in early learning settings are developmentally “on track”, which is one of the contributing factors to our … Read more
On 23 October, South Africa will join several countries around the world in marking the sixth annual Lights On After School (LOAS) campaign. Led locally by The Learning Trust in partnership with YearBeyond, the initiative shines a spotlight on the critical role After School Programmes (ASPs)play in shaping young lives, by reducing school dropout and creating pathways out of poverty … Read more
The Learning Trust is proud to share our 2024 Annual Report, a reflection of a three-year journey to strengthen South Africa’s extended learning sector. This year’s report highlights how After School Programmes (ASPs) continue to play a critical role in advancing education equity, reducing dropout rates and preparing young people for meaningful futures. From supporting … Read more
Over the past five years, The Learning Trust (TLT) has worked to strengthen After School Programmes (ASPs) across South Africa, ensuring they have the resources, skills and support needed to sustain and scale. This impact report provides a deep dive into the outcomes of our funding and capacity-support model.
In this edition of the Beyond The Classroom quarterly newsletter, we share updates from the past quarter, including key developments, programme updates, and collaborative efforts driving meaningful change.
Read on to learn how we’re working together to improve learning and employment outcomes in underserved communities across South Africa. Read on to learn how we are strengthening the after-school space.
The Learning Trust is proud to introduce the After School Quality Standards and Quality Assessment Tool (QAT), a vital tool co-created with in-put from after-school programmes across South Africa to ensure every learner receives the best support possible. What are After School Quality Standards, and Why Do They Matter? The After School Quality Standards are a … Read more